Both of these alleged plotters - named as Musa Hamada from the east Jerusalem district of Sur Bahr and his friend, Bassem Omeri, an Israeli citizen from Beit Safafa - are accused of having been operatives of the Islamist militant group, Hamas, on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, the most important religious site in Jerusalem.

Their activities included systematically checking how best to launch a rocket while the stadium was crowded with people during a game, officials said. They also allegedly visited a nearby hillside to survey the area.

According to Shin Bet, the two began planning the attack after the Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip in December 2009. They also acquired a number of rifles to carry out additional attacks, it added.

Mr Hamada and Mr Omeri, who were arrested in November, were charged on Sunday with being members of a terrorist organisation, illegal use of weapons and planning an attack, Shin Bet said.